Stella Pekarsky
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 36
Public elementary and secondary schools; student cell phone possession and use policies; development and implementation. Directs each school board to develop and each public elementary and secondary school to implement policies relating to the possession and use of cell phones and smart devices by students on school property from bell to bell, as defined in the law, and requires such policies, among other things, to (i) restrict student cell phone and smart device possession and use on school property from bell to bell and (ii) permit any student, pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan, Section 504 Plan, individualized health care plan, or Limited English Proficiency plan, to possess and use a cell phone or smart device on school property, including in the classroom, from bell to bell to monitor or address a health concern or as an accommodation or assistive technology support. This bill is identical to HB 1961.
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-277 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-79.3:1, relating to public elementary and secondary schools; student discipline; bell-to-bell student cell phone and smart device possession and use policies; development and implementation.
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0606)
Enacted, Chapter 606 (Effective 07/01/2025)
Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
Signed by President as reenrolled
Reenrolled bill text (SB738ER2)
Reenrolled
Governor's recommendation adopted
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (91-Y 2-N)
Governor's substitute printed (SB738S3)
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB738ER)
Enrolled
Conference report agreed to by House (73-Y 23-N)
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N)
Conference substitute printed 25107823D-S2
Amended by conference committee
Delegates: Rasoul, Cousins, Green
Conferees appointed by House
Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N)
Senators: Pekarsky, Hashmi, Pillion
Conferees appointed by Senate
House requested conference committee
House insisted on substitute
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 37-N)
Passed House with substitute (67-Y 28-N)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Education Substitute agreed to
Read third time
Read second time
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 25106766D-H1
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Education
Placed on Calendar
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
Read second time
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
Reading of substitute waived
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (37-Y 0-N)
Passed by for the day
Rules suspended
Committee substitute printed 25105124D-S1
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100096D
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| Chaptered | HTML PDF |
| Reenrolled | HTML PDF |
| Governor Substitute | HTML PDF |
| Governor's Recommendation | HTML |
| Enrolled | HTML PDF |
| Conference Report | HTML |
| Conference Substitute | HTML PDF |
| Education Substitute | HTML PDF HTML PDF |
| Education and Health Substitute | HTML PDF |
| Introduced | HTML PDF |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| Unknown | |
| Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738) | PDF PDF PDF |
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